Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-12
..Runnfng An,uck.,'

Running amuck" g phrase derived
from the Malay word "amok" ("killing")
and constitutes well marked hystetical af
fection of certain races inhabiting oriental
countries. 1t is rarely, if ever, manifested
among the quiet tempered Hindoos, and
but seldom among the Indian Mussulmans,
which, whenever it does occur in Hindo.
stan, the malady may generally be traced
to the abuse OF opium or the extract ofhemp
called bhang, ganja or charras. The Hin.
doc tobacconist sells special confection
made of bhang, opium, datura, cloves, mas
tic, cinnamon and cardamums, which is
mixed with milk and sugar and eaten as
sweetmeat. This diabolical cake-known
as majum-will drive man mad about as
soon rs anything. With the Malays, how
ever, who have given name to the terrible
mental alteration Of which we speak, and
who are by far the most addicted to it of all
eastern people, there is seldom any such ex
planation of the outbreak. Suddenly, with
out rhyme or reason, q man will spring up
from his shop board or mis- couch, draw his
kris-the wave bladed dagger which they
oil carry-and, with scream of "Amok
Amok 81 strike its point iato the heart OF
the nearest waylarer and dart down the
crowded bazar like the lunstic which he is,
stabbing and cutting on ell sides "Amok
Amok u issues from q hundred mouths,
and everybody hurries for place of ref.
uge, fleeing in all directions, except those
bolder spirits who snatch up weapons Of
defense and join the armed throng which
pursues the desperate. The path of the
chase s soon strewn with bodies of men,
women and children, dead or bleeding to
DEATH until some lucky shot or daring
thrust dsabes the murderer, who is pierced
with dozen blades as soon as he falls to
the ground. Occasionally it turns out that
the ''amoker" has received some personal
affront or injury or was hopelessly in debt
or disappointed in love but more common
ly there is nothing whatever to account for
the wild fury of his proceedings, and the
street sweepers drag his carcass as careless
ly away as if leopard had been slain in the
public streets. So ordinary, indeed, is the
occurrence that in many towns and cities
where there lives large Malay population,
an instrument is kept in readiness at every
police station called the ''amoker catcher"
1t is something like an eel spear with very
long handle, and so contrived that two elas-
tic pointed spikes close around the mad
mans neck, and secure him helplessly when
the iron prongs are pushed against the nape
from behind.
Neither rank nor wealth keeps Malay
from this sudden access of homicidal mania
If he has the predisposition OF has been
greatly excited There was an instance at
in the island of Java. where the
the regent was celebrating the mar
riage of two of his daughters, and
everybody was in festive and joyous
mood. Just, however, at the gayest mo
ment of the ceremonies the regents brother
in-aw, high official, came rushing through
the procession, stabbing everybody he could
get at with his jeweled kris. The regent
himself, coming up to inquire into the up
roar was killed by single thrust, and it
was the brother OF the prince who ran the
"amoker" through the back with spear
and brought him down, yet not before he
had slaughtered nine of the palace people
and wounded six others more or less Sc.
verely.
1t might be supposed that race subject
to such ferocious fits would be naturally eX
citable and nervous in manner; but the con
trary is the case. The Malay is of all men
the most quiet, dignified and slow of speech
aud action in his ordinary life. He seldom
speaks loudly or quickly, has the most
courteous and even gentlemanly demeanor
and quarres very rarely with his fellows.
Yet he is coldly aud silently cruel; has no
regard for human life aud derives from the
Mohammedan faith, which he processes, its
bitterost and most relentless dogmas. Once
started on the death run" by insult, despair
or some brain trouble, his only thought is to
"kill and kill and kill' and in the fierce
exultation of his insanity he does not feel
the blow which lets out his burning blood
and puts stop to his dreadful career
London Telegraph.